News Bob Iger is back! Chapek is out!!

[mightynine]

What makes you think Chapek could dream that up on his own? If anything, the dream of monetizing guest data came with Iger’s MM+ infatuation.

I'm not? I was talking more about the idea in general and why I wouldn't see why it would be scrapped with Bob 1's return.

 

[Magic Crush Drop]

. It's a real shame the actual Disney family isn't taking control of Disney anymore.

Question: Why do you want the Disney family to be incharge? Last time I checked, the only skills they have are collecting those inheritance checks. Having the Disney name ≠ able to run TWDC.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Question: Why do you want the Disney family to be incharge? Last time I checked, the only skills they have are collecting those inheritance checks. Having the Disney name ≠ able to run TWDC.

Agree totally…that family has been a mess for decades

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Number one rule in business…never leave it to the kids…in MANY cases, they only know the positives, not all the blood and guts you put in to make it a success.

 

[Indy_UK]

Iger needs to really have a look at bribing back Mayer and Staggs. Just purchase their company to enable it.

I think if they put a true creative person in charge of the parks, then they’re onto a winner

 

[Lilofan]

Iger needs to really have a look at bribing back Mayer and Staggs. Just purchase their company to enable it.

I think if they put a true creative person in charge of the parks, then they’re onto a winner

Mayer and Staggs ? Same guys who left Disney because Board had no faith in them to take the top job at the time ?

 

[Lilofan]

Number one rule in business…never leave it to the kids…in MANY cases, they only know the positives, not all the blood and guts you put in to make it a success.

I see an exception - the family that runs Wal Mart.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I see an exception - the family that runs Wal Mart.

You mean the people who have kept hundreds of thousands of employees on the poverty line for 50 years?

…well we know Wall Street would love them

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I see an exception - the family that runs Wal Mart.

I’ve seen many companies run well with children, BUT, in MANY cases, you spend years working 7 days a week, not pulling a paycheck and build a successful business, retire and the kids run it into the ground because all they’ve ever seen was success.
It’s a little different when it’s a publicity traded company than with a small business.

 

[Lilofan]

You mean the people who have kept hundreds of thousands of employees on the poverty line for 50 years?

…well we know Wall Street would love them

That Save Money Live Better jingle that earns billions for Wal Mart. The Live Better I would question.

 

[_caleb]

Something that hasn’t been much discussed is what Chapek talked about in one of his last interviews. This was from the WSJ talk where he’s explaining a plan to join the parks experience with D+ by sharing user data between the two:



Ignoring for a second that this doesn’t sound like it would meaningfully move needle on adding subscriptions or improving entertainment quality, is there any reason to believe this plan has been scrapped by Iger?

Connection of content to products and services has been Iger's stated goal for direct-to-consumer since 2017, and it's seen as the path to profitability for Disney+.

 

[_caleb]

To be fair to my new BFF Caleb…

We need our own "from rivals to friends" montage

You could assume that anyone under multiple extensions has the potential to retire at anytime…so not really “abrupt”

Yep.

However…iger’s couldn’t have been any more abrupt

I mean, the board announcing on Iger's behalf would have been abrupter (see the announcement of Chapek's departure for an example).

 

[Slpy3270]

Once again Wells Fargo is floating an ESPN/ABC spin-off as a "reasonably probable" event in late 2023, literally forgetting where Bob Iger came from (not to mention Time Warner spinning off AOL, Time Warner Cable and Time Inc. did absolutely nothing for them).

Seriously, can't these people just give up already?

I totally forgot that this was the same guy who said Paramount's outlook was so bad CBS would have to consider an early exit from their NFL contract.

Yeah, "smart" brain.

 

[Lilofan]

Once again Wells Fargo is floating an ESPN/ABC spin-off as a "reasonably probable" event in late 2023, literally forgetting where Bob Iger came from (not to mention Time Warner spinning off AOL, Time Warner Cable and Time Inc. did absolutely nothing for them).

Seriously, can't these people just give up already?

Wells Fargo got caught red handed in the fraudulent savings scandal a few years back and they are reputable consultants ?

 

[kingdead]

I don't know.... the Disney Channel(s) still exist.

I do think there will be some shift on Disney+ content to something closer to what they are producing for TV (as a replacement for TV/Cable) rather than a replacement for Theatrical releases. More game shows and cheaper sit-com style shows.

A subscriber is a subscriber is a subscriber. It doesn't matter if they watch one show or ten shows a month. Put another way, if the subscriber is a person with kids, you can get them subscribing for the cost of making Bluey or Miraculous Ladybug, you don't need to make She Hulk or Andor. The grown ups could watch Netflix or Max 100 percent of the rest of their time, it wouldn't matter because that subscription fee is in Disney's pocket. Ad money complicates things but the basis is still the same.

Which is all to say that yeah, they're probably going to pivot to more children's programming, including with the franchises. Kind of like the old Disney Channel on cable. Why not?

Something that hasn’t been much discussed is what Chapek talked about in one of his last interviews. This was from the WSJ talk where he’s explaining a plan to join the parks experience with D+ by sharing user data between the two:

I'm curious as to how they'd tailor the content for you--you'd ride Pirates of the Caribbean and then you'd get a rec for the Pirates movies? I guess that's useful in a minor way, although at a certain point what are they going to do, decide that they have to make TV based on Star Tours? Or would the content itself be somehow changed to reflect your identity?

 

[Ayla]

I think this is part of the problem also, they keep remaking classics, often with a diverse cast, that aren’t as good as the originals and diversity becomes associated with bad.

For example, New Aladin is vastly inferior to the old Aladin, that’s not Will Smiths fault (he didn’t write and direct it) but people associate the movie with him. It’s not fair but it’s reality.

If the Little Mermaid isn’t as good as the original (good luck reaching that bar) it’s going to be associated with Halle, fair or not she’s the face that will be remembered because she’s the high profile change.

Cinderella wasn’t amazing but it didn’t have “controversy”, it’s largely forgotten, Beauty and the Beast wasn’t amazing but it didn’t have “controversy”, it’s largely forgotten. Disney is setting these actors up to fail and in cases of gender or race swapping people associate the actors with the failure.

Wan't Brandy Cinderella?

 

[Br0ckford]

Wan't Brandy Cinderella?

In the 1997 version.

 

[Heppenheimer]

A subscriber is a subscriber is a subscriber. It doesn't matter if they watch one show or ten shows a month. Put another way, if the subscriber is a person with kids, you can get them subscribing for the cost of making Bluey or Miraculous Ladybug, you don't need to make She Hulk or Andor. The grown ups could watch Netflix or Max 100 percent of the rest of their time, it wouldn't matter because that subscription fee is in Disney's pocket. Ad money complicates things but the basis is still the same.

Which is all to say that yeah, they're probably going to pivot to more children's programming, including with the franchises. Kind of like the old Disney Channel on cable. Why not?

I'm curious as to how they'd tailor the content for you--you'd ride Pirates of the Caribbean and then you'd get a rec for the Pirates movies? I guess that's useful in a minor way, although at a certain point what are they going to do, decide that they have to make TV based on Star Tours? Or would the content itself be somehow changed to reflect your identity?

Or is this like when I buy a specific item online and I get flooded with advertisements for that exact same thing I just bought?

 

[_caleb]

I'm curious as to how they'd tailor the content for you--you'd ride Pirates of the Caribbean and then you'd get a rec for the Pirates movies? I guess that's useful in a minor way, although at a certain point what are they going to do, decide that they have to make TV based on Star Tours? Or would the content itself be somehow changed to reflect your identity?

I believe the new thinking about Disney’s audience as a collection of audiences. The streaming tech they’re using started as a service for Major League Baseball, and it worked by assuming the viewer was a. baseball fan, but then drilling down to see what team(s) you were a fan of, and then down to what “type” of fan you were.

For D+ content, Disney knows you watched Pirates of the Caribbean, but they also know what “kind” of fan you are and serves you related content that it guesses will appeal to you. If you’re a fan of Johnny Depp, it’ll recommend other films he’s in. If you’ve ridden the rides, it might include Imagineering Story-type content about the rides. It also looks at genre, routines, and what you click on to preview but then don’t actually watch.

Eventually, it will try to convince you to visit Shanghai because their Pirates ride is unique. It will try to sell you Pirates cosplay items (if you’re into that), or Jake the Neverland Pirate stuff if it knows you have kids.

 

[DCBaker]

From an email Bob Iger sent to D23 members -

“As we approach the end of 2022, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude to the biggest Disney fans in the world – all of you.

Disney is fortunate to have the most devoted and enthusiastic fans, and I was reminded of this a few weeks ago when I visited Disneyland Resort and attended the Candlelight Processional. It was invigorating to be surrounded by so many guests who make what we do possible. We love your passion for our company and your enthusiasm for what we create, and we will continue to do our best to exceed your highest expectations.

As you know, next year Disney will mark its 100th anniversary. We are immeasurably grateful to the generations of fans all around the globe who have invited our stories and characters into their lives, and we look forward to celebrating the groundbreaking moments, the cherished memories, and the creative visionaries that made Disney the most beloved name in entertainment over the past century.

During the coming year, D23 will launch a slate of exciting events to mark this historic milestone. More information can be found here.

Looking at all the opportunities ahead, I can honestly say there has never been a better time to be a Disney fan. It is an extraordinary privilege to lead this remarkable company again, and I am so grateful for your continued passion for Disney. On behalf of all of us at The Walt Disney Company, I wish you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy and prosperous New Year.”

CEO Bob Iger Says Disney Will Do Its Best to "Exceed Your Highest Expectations" | the disney food blog

Disney CEO Bob Iger has sent out a holiday message. See it here.

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